Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: darkandrew on August 26, 2014, 01:05:02 PM

Title: BK humbuckers for super-strats
Post by: darkandrew on August 26, 2014, 01:05:02 PM
On another topic I've been asking about the suitability of a Nailbomb for my basswood super-strat and from the replies, and from trawling through the forum, it looks as though some BK humbuckers  were designed with Les Paul style guitars in mind and some were meant more for super-strat types.

As far as I can make out, the following were designed primarily for super-strats:

VH ii
Crawler
War Pig

Do you think any of these are wrong or that I've left any off?
Title: Re: BK humbuckers for super-strats
Post by: JimmyMoorby on August 26, 2014, 01:16:12 PM
On another topic I've been asking about the suitability of a Nailbomb for my basswood super-strat and from the replies, and from trawling through the forum, it looks as though some BK humbuckers  were designed with Les Paul style guitars in mind and some were meant more for super-strat types.

As far as I can make out, the following were designed primarily for super-strats:

VH ii
Crawler
War Pig

Do you think any of these are wrong or that I've left any off?

The VHii is definitely perfect for super strats.  Some people say its good in les pauls others not....personally I think it would be a waste or an outright mistake but the vhii bridge it in a les paul but ive never actually done it.

I really liked the nailbomb in any super strat ive played or heard but some people think it suits warmer guitars just depends on your taste.  The nailbomb is based on that nailbomb/sepultura type tone (And beyond) and Max Cavalera never played any thing like a les paul.  I imagine the nailbomb would sound great in a les paul except for the fact thered be very little treble.

I would say the cold sweats are intended for a les paul but.......do what you want.
Title: Re: BK humbuckers for super-strats
Post by: Dave Sloven on August 26, 2014, 02:41:57 PM
I haven't owned one but from what I've read I'd add the Holy Diver (and Abraxas?) to that list along with the Crawler, Warpig, and VHII.

Rebel Yell, Painkiller, Cold Sweat, Emerald, I would think definitely the darker mahogany guitars.

Warpigs and Miracle Mans for brighter, middier mahogany guitars like SGs.

Miracle Man and Nailbomb I think can do either, but the A-Bomb is not a safe choice in an SG.
Title: Re: BK humbuckers for super-strats
Post by: Yellowjacket on August 26, 2014, 03:52:18 PM
On another topic I've been asking about the suitability of a Nailbomb for my basswood super-strat and from the replies, and from trawling through the forum, it looks as though some BK humbuckers  were designed with Les Paul style guitars in mind and some were meant more for super-strat types.

As far as I can make out, the following were designed primarily for super-strats:

VH ii
Crawler
War Pig

Do you think any of these are wrong or that I've left any off?

The VHii is definitely perfect for super strats.  Some people say its good in les pauls others not....personally I think it would be a waste or an outright mistake but the vhii bridge it in a les paul but ive never actually done it.

I really liked the nailbomb in any super strat ive played or heard but some people think it suits warmer guitars just depends on your taste.  The nailbomb is based on that nailbomb/sepultura type tone (And beyond) and Max Cavalera never played any thing like a les paul.  I imagine the nailbomb would sound great in a les paul except for the fact thered be very little treble.

I would say the cold sweats are intended for a les paul but.......do what you want.

A-Bomb has plenty of treble in a Les Paul, well compared to a Stock Les Paul.  Strats are always going to be brighter...
Title: Re: BK humbuckers for super-strats
Post by: JimmyMoorby on August 26, 2014, 04:40:33 PM
On another topic I've been asking about the suitability of a Nailbomb for my basswood super-strat and from the replies, and from trawling through the forum, it looks as though some BK humbuckers  were designed with Les Paul style guitars in mind and some were meant more for super-strat types.

As far as I can make out, the following were designed primarily for super-strats:

VH ii
Crawler
War Pig

Do you think any of these are wrong or that I've left any off?

The VHii is definitely perfect for super strats.  Some people say its good in les pauls others not....personally I think it would be a waste or an outright mistake but the vhii bridge it in a les paul but ive never actually done it.

I really liked the nailbomb in any super strat ive played or heard but some people think it suits warmer guitars just depends on your taste.  The nailbomb is based on that nailbomb/sepultura type tone (And beyond) and Max Cavalera never played any thing like a les paul.  I imagine the nailbomb would sound great in a les paul except for the fact thered be very little treble.

I would say the cold sweats are intended for a les paul but.......do what you want.

A-Bomb has plenty of treble in a Les Paul, well compared to a Stock Les Paul.  Strats are always going to be brighter...

Well its all relative my only minor qualm with the alnico nailbomb was it could do with some more hi end so in a les paul compared to a strat thered be even less which I wouldnt like.
Title: Re: BK humbuckers for super-strats
Post by: Yellowjacket on August 26, 2014, 04:59:18 PM
I suppose so.  Out of curiosity:

What amp, valves (tubes), cab, and speakers are you running?

Did you replace the electronics in your axe?  I find 550k pots help out a lot for humbuckers.

Title: Re: BK humbuckers for super-strats
Post by: JimmyMoorby on August 26, 2014, 06:00:36 PM
I suppose so.  Out of curiosity:

What amp, valves (tubes), cab, and speakers are you running?

Did you replace the electronics in your axe?  I find 550k pots help out a lot for humbuckers.

Orange rockerverb / 5150 iii and a orange ppc412 with 550k pots.
Title: Re: BK humbuckers for super-strats
Post by: Telerocker on August 26, 2014, 06:25:45 PM
Those three all will do a great job in bolt-on alder/ash guitars. I doubt if the Crawler and the Warpig are the ideal pickups for basswood strats. That depends so much on the natural timbre of the guitar. Btw, the Crawler was designed for Geoff Whitehorn as you probably know. He wanted a pickup that would deliver the goodies in strats, but also in LP's. I think the Crawler particularly excels in bolt-on alder/ash/swampash guitars.
Title: Re: BK humbuckers for super-strats
Post by: Archlute on August 29, 2014, 03:55:10 AM
i have a Holydiver in the bridge of my Ibanez RG920 basswood w. maple cap, HH setup, and it totally kicks ass.  I'm pretty sure the suitability profile on their site mentions it being particularly fitting for basswood/bolt on necks needing more body.  It's by far my favorite bridge pup now for this guitar.

I also have the Emerald neck, and while I think I could do with some more output for a neck pup when metal soloing, it certainly gives both nice stratty tones for bluesy lead playing, as well as gorgeous cleans.  It's one of the best pickups I've had for making a big difference between running the neck coils in either series or parallel.     
Title: Re: BK humbuckers for super-strats
Post by: MrBump on September 01, 2014, 07:45:43 AM
I had Nailbombs in my ash body/maple neck Charvel, and while they were OK they never really floated my boat.

I now have VHIIs in that guitar (slightly modified with a new maple neck that has an ebony fingerboard as opposed to rosewood) and it's awesome.
Title: Re: BK humbuckers for super-strats
Post by: darkbluemurder on September 02, 2014, 07:32:42 AM
As far as I can make out, the following were designed primarily for super-strats:

VH ii
Crawler
War Pig

Do you think any of these are wrong or that I've left any off?

A big yes to the Crawler in that application. No idea on the others since I have not used them in the bridge of a strat. I have had excellent results with the Holydiver bridge, too.

Cheers Stephan
Title: Re: BK humbuckers for super-strats
Post by: m t soule on September 02, 2014, 07:20:54 PM
Very yes to the HD, VHII AND CR. They are all brilliant with crazed distortion for me but the vhii and crawler really excel in cleans.
I do really like my nailbomb too but it is the one with least impact in my basswood.